Communicable diseases intelligence quarterly report
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Commun Dis Intell Q Rep · Jan 2003
Laboratory surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease in Australia in 2001 to 2002--implications for vaccine serotype coverage.
This paper reports the results of comprehensive laboratory surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Australia during 2001 and 2002. The 7-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine was introduced for high risk paediatric groups, including Indigenous children, in late 2001. Of 1,355 isolates from non-Indigenous children, 86 per cent belonged to serotypes and 93 per cent to serogroups represented in the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. ⋯ Conjugate pneumococcal vaccines can be expected to reduce the incidence of IPD due to vaccine serotypes in vaccinated children and potentially, their adult contacts. It may also impact favourably on the incidence of IPD due to penicillin and erythromycin resistant strains. Continued surveillance of both serotype distribution and antibiotic susceptibility are required to identify serotype replacement by non-vaccine serotypes and to monitor the overall impact of current and future vaccine programs on invasive pneumococcal disease in Australia.
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Commun Dis Intell Q Rep · Jan 2003
State-wide surveillance of in-hospital antimicrobial utilisation in South Australia.
In late 2001, a group of South Australian metropolitan public and private hospitals commenced voluntary contribution of data on in-hospital utilisation of antimicrobials to the Communicable Disease Control Branch of the Department of Human Services. Where possible, hospitals contributed data on all antimicrobials dispensed for use within the institution each month. These data were stratified into antimicrobials issued to intensive care units and antimicrobials issued to all other areas within the hospital. ⋯ These utilisation rates were calculated for each individual hospital and for the combined group of contributing hospitals (state-wide rate). Although limited data are currently available, results to date demonstrate a much higher antimicrobial usage rate in intensive care units than other in-patient areas for the classes currently analysed. Considerable variation in the usage of various antimicrobials has been noted for individual hospitals, and analysis of trends over a longer time period, in conjunction with resistance surveillance data, will be required.
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The Kimberley region in far-north Western Australia has some of the highest reported incidences of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the nation. This report documents the region's incidence rates of gonorrhoea and syphilis from 1997 to 2001 and of chlamydia from 1993 to 2001. ⋯ Syphilis rates, which plateaued between 1996 and 2000 following a steep decrease in the previous decade, rose in 2001 in association with a regional syphilis outbreak. Factors important in interpreting changes in STI rates over time include the increased accuracy of more recent census data, the introduction of new and more sensitive diagnostic techniques and the influence of health workforce numbers and skills on STI diagnosis.
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Commun Dis Intell Q Rep · Jan 2002
Enhancing foodborne disease surveillance across Australia in 2001: the OzFoodNet Working Group.
In 2000, the OzFoodNet network was established to enhance surveillance of foodborne diseases across Australia. OzFoodNet consists of 7 sites and covers 68 per cent of Australia's population. During 2001, sites reported 15,815 cases of campylobacteriosis, 6,607 cases of salmonellosis, 326 cases of shigellosis, 71 cases of yersiniosis, 61 cases of listeriosis, 47 cases of shiga-toxin producing E. coli and 5 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome. ⋯ OzFoodNet initiated case control studies into risk factors for Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria, and shiga-toxin producing E. coli. OzFoodNet developed a foodborne disease outbreak register for Australia; established a network of laboratories to type Campylobacter; prepared a survey of pathology laboratories; reviewed Australian data on listeriosis; and assessed the usefulness of sentinel surveillance for gastroenteritis. This program of enhanced surveillance has demonstrated its capacity to nationally investigate and determine the causes of foodborne disease.